How to Make a Safe Return to Exercise After the Holidays

osteopath broadmeadows

After coming back from the holidays, sometimes the thought of going back to your normal exercising routine seems a bit discouraging. Going away for the holidays is an excellent boost for your mental health and well-being, but the holidays are often a time of indulgence. The seasonal foods from the holidays can put a dent in our physical health, and that’s fine. If you’ve fallen out of your fitness routine during the holidays, it’s not too late to start again. In this article, we will be giving you tips from our Osteopath in Broadmeadows on how to make a safe return to exercise after the holiday and avoid injuries such as ligament sprains.

Tips From an Osteopath in Broadmeadows

Osteopath Broadmeadows

Take your time
After not exercising for a while, your body naturally deconditions itself. Even though you’ve had intense workout sessions before, your body will take time to get back into working out. Pushing hard from the start is dangerous because you will risk injuries like ligament sprains. Slowly go back by starting with shorter and lighter exercises and workouts, and over time, you can gradually increase the intensity of your exercise whenever your body feels ready. Rest is also essential before going back to your fitness routine. If you’ve had adequate sleep, you’ll more likely be inclined to your previous fitness routines.

Adjust your diet
The seasonal food is quite indulgent, which makes it hard to stick to a healthy diet. If you’re ready to get back to your fitness routine, you will need to fuel your body with the proper nutrients to help you get your body back in shape. Dieting doesn’t always mean you’ll deprive yourself of eating, but having the right amount of nutrients just to fuel up your body. Focus on eating healthy carbs, proteins, fat, and drink lots of water to keep you hydrated.

Setting a goal
Setting a goal for yourself can help you establish a mindset that will get you back on track with eating right and working out. Setting small, attainable goals can help you keep your fitness momentum and motivation active. After attaining a goal you set, you can reward yourself with a rest day, a cheat day, or a fun surprise to avoid overworking. This can boost your mental health and well-being.

Osteopath Broadmeadows

Stretching
Stretching properly is essential, especially after not working out for a while. This avoids injuries during your workout. Stretching before your workout helps you avoid injury, as well as loosen up your muscles to maximize your performance on your fitness routine.

Reduce Injuries and Make a Safe Return to Exercise After Holidays

You know you have succeeded in your fitness regime if you know how your body responds to exercise and knowing its limits. If you experience injuries such as strains or sprains while working out, you need to seek medical help for going back to working out.

Inappropriate assessment of injuries may lead to more serious and dangerous injury, which means longer osteopath treatment and rehabilitation, and might cause more problems in the future.